Self-aligning bearing assembly

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a self-aligning bearing assembly which includes an inner race member having a part spherical outer surface, and an outer race member having a part spherical inner surface cooperable with the inner race member surface, the outer race member being split in an axial direction so as to facilitate the assembly of the inner race member within the outer race member. A sheet metal cylinder is placed around the assembled inner race member and outer race member to retain the outer race member against separation with this same cylinder being utilized to fixedly secure the bearing assembly within a housing.

United States Patent inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented AssigneeSELF-ALIGNING BEARING ASSEMBLY 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

1,340,663 5/1920 Maire 308/196 2,681,259 6/1954 White 308/72 3,118,711[/1964 Bachelet et al. 308/236 3,464,747 9/1969 Schmidt 308/72 PrimaryExaminer-Martin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Frank Susko Anorneys-Frank S. Troidl and David W. Tibbott ABSTRACT: This disclosure relatesto a self-aligning bearing assembly which includes an inner race memberhaving a part spherical outer surface, and an outer race member having apart spherical inner surface cooperable with the inner race membersurface, the outer race member being split in an axial direction so asto facilitate the assembly of the inner race member within the outerrace member. A sheet metal cylinder is placed around the assembled innerrace member and outer race member to retain the outer race memberagainst separation with this same cylinder being utilized to fixedlysecure the bearing assembly within a housing.

PATENTEI] nicmn INVENTDRS PH H. FODTE,Jr. S-EQ M. cums A'TTD RNEYSSELF-ALIGNING BEARING ASSEMBLY This invention relates in general to newand useful improvements in self-aligning bearings, and more particularlyto a selfaligning bearing assembly of the ball-bushing type wherein theouter race member is fractured at least along one axial line so as tofacilitate the assembly of the ball bushing within the outer racemember, and more particularly relates to a novel combined retaining andmounting member which completes the bearing assembly.

It will be readily apparent that inasmuch as the outer race member is ofa split construction, some means must be provided for preventing theundesired separation of the outer race member. Accordingly, in the past,a sleeve has been tightly fitted around the outer race member so as torestrain the same against outward expansion and separation. Such asleeve has been successful for the intended purpose, but has not beenadvantageously utilized.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to utilize the sleevenot only as a retaining member, but also as a mounting member. Thus, thesleeve may have dual utility without requiring materially additionalmaterial. In its function as a combined retaining and mounting member,the sleeve will be provided with flanges at the opposite ends thereof.These flanges, when bent relative to a housing member, will securelyanchor the bearing assembly within the housing.

In one form of the invention, the combined retaining and mounting memberis provided with a preformed out-tumed flange at one end thereof, whichflange, when the bearing assembly is placed within a housing, abutsagainst one face of the housing so as to locate the bearing assembly.However, if desired, the preformed flange may be omitted and bothflanges formed in situ after the bearing assembly has been positionedwithin the housing member.

It is also proposed that the bore of the housing member in which thebearing assembly is seated may be chamfered at the opposite ends thereofand after the bearing assembly has been positioned within the housingmember, the opposite ends of the combined retaining and mounting membermay be outwardly flanged into the chamfers to retain the bearingassembly in position relative to the housing member.

A further object of this invention is to advantageously utilize a sheetmetal cylinder in a self-aligning bearing assembly both as a retainingmember and a mounting member, the cylinder being readily secured to theouter race member so as to prevent separation thereof by providing theouter race member with a peripheral groove and shaping the cylinder,when in place on the outer race member, so as to define a rib whichprojects into the groove so as to lock together the outer face memberand the cylinder.

A still further object of this invention is to advantageously utilize agroove formed on the outer surface of the cylinder during the formationof the rib as a lubricant passage for internally lubricating the bearingassembly.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the components of theself-aligning bearing assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bearing assembly of FIG. 1 in itsassembled condition, a portion of the combined retaining and mountingmember being broken away and shown in section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical axial sectional view through the bearingassembly and shows further the specific details thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a housing and showsmounted therein the bearing assembly.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are half sectional views of modified forms of bearingassemblies seated in housing member prior to the formation of mountingflanges.

Referring now the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there areillustrated the details of the self-aligning bearing assembly which isthe subject of this invention, the bearing assembly being generallyidentified by the numeral 10. The bearing assembly basically includes aninner race member, which is identified by the numeral 11, an outer racemember, which is identified by the numeral 12, and a combined retainingand mounting member, which is identified by the numeral 13.

The inner race member 1 l is in the form of a spherical bushing 14 whichmay have axial extensions or flanges 15 at the opposite ends thereof.The inner race member 11 is provided with an axial bore 16 for thereception of a shaft or other mounting member, including a bolt, pin,etc. If desired, the bore 16 may be provided with a suitable liner, suchas an aluminum bronze liner. This is optional.

It is to be noted that the spherical bushing 14 has a part sphericalouter surface 17 which is interrupted by an annular lubricant groove 18.In addition, the spherical bushing may be provided with radial lubricantpassages 20 to facilitate the application of a lubricant to the internalsurface of the bore 16.

The outer race member 12 is formed with a part spherical internal outerrace surface 21 which mates with the inner race surface 17 of the innerrace member 11. Thus, the outer race member 12 has a fit with the innerrace member 11 in a manner wherein the inner race member is firmlysupported relative to the outer race member 12 while being free forrelative rotational and rocking movement. The outer surface of the outerrace member 12 is generally cylindrical and is provided with a centrallylocated annular groove 22.

It is to be understood that the outer race member 12 is of a splitconstruction in order to facilitate the positioning of the inner racemember 11 therein. To this end, the outer race member 12 is axiallyfractured and while. the outer race member 12 illustrated in the drawingis of a two-piece con struction, it is to be understood that a singleaxial fracture may be formed in the outer race member 12 and the outerrace member 12 spread open sufficiently during the assembly of theself-aligning bearing to permit the insertion of the inner race member11 therein.

It is also to be noted that the outer race member 12 is provided withradial lubricant passages 23 which open into the annular lubricantpassage or groove 18 of the inner race member 11 and serve in a mannerto be described hereinafter to deliver lubricant for flow both betweenthe surfaces 17 and 21 and into the bore 16. In order that flow oflubricant out between the surfaces 17 and 21 may be restricted and atthe same time foreign matter may be excluded in the space between thesurfaces, the opposite ends of the outer race member 12 are providedwith seals 24. As is best shown in FIG. 1, the ends of the outer racemember 12 are provided with annular grooves 25 into which the seals 24snap.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description of theself-aligning bearing that the bearing has two additional requirements.First, suitable means must be provided to prevent the separation of theouter race member 12. Secondly, means must be provided to facilitate themounting of the bearing in a housing. In accordance with this invention,both functions are performed by the combined retaining and mountingmember 13.

The combined retaining and mounting member 13 is preferably formed ofsheet metal and is in the form of a cylinder 26 having an out-tumedflange 27 formed on one end thereof. It is to be understood that thecylinder 26 has an internal bore of a dimension to be snugly receivedover the assembled inner race member 11 and outer race member 12. Afterthe cylinder 26 has been telescoped over the outer race member 12, as isshown in FIG. 3, with the flange 27 thereof preferably being coplanarwith one end of the outer race member 12, it is fixedly secured to theouter race member 12 by spinning a central portion of the cylinder 26 todefine an annular rib 28 which is snugly received in the annular groove22 of the outer race member 12. It is to be understood that when thecombined retaining and mounting member 13 is properly assembled with theouter race member 12, as is shown in FIG. 3, the outer race member 12 istightly restrained against separation while the combined retaining andmounting member 13 is fixed against relative axial movement with respectto the outer race member 12.

It is to be noted from FIG. 3 that in the assembled state of theself-aligning bearing assembly 10, the combined retaining and mountingmember 13 has the cylinder 26 thereof projecting axially beyond theouter race member 12 remote from the flange 27 in the form of a lip orprojection 29. This lip or projection 29 is utilized in the mounting ofthe bearing assembly in a manner to be described hereinafter.

It is to be understood that the self-aligning bearing assembly 10 may besold in the form illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4. However, it isintended that the bearing assembly 10 be mounted in a housing in themanner best illustrated in FIG. 5. A suitable housing, such as thehousing 30, is provided with a bore 31 of a size to snugly receive thecylinder 26. The bearing assembly 10 is pressed into the housing bore 31until the flange 27 abuts one face of the housing. Thereafter, the lipor projection 29 of the cylinder 26 is swaged or otherwise shaped so asto define a second out-turned flange 32 which is disposed generallyparallel to the flange 27 and is in face-to-face contact with theadjacent face of the housing 30. Thus, the flanges 27 and 32 anchor thebearing assembly 10 against axial movement relative to the housing whilethe press fitting of the cylinder 26 into the housing 30 preventsrelative rotation between the housing 30 and the combined retaining andmounting member 13. 7

It is to be noted that when the bearing assembly 10 is mounted withinthe housing 30, the annular rib 28 of the cylinder 26, in cooperationwith the housing 30, defines an annular lubricant groove or passage 33into which lubricant may be delivered through a lubricant passage 34formed in the housing 30. In order to facilitate the distribution oflubricant into the interior of the bearing assembly 10, the cylinder 26is provided with openings or ports 35 aligned with the lubricantpassages 23 in the outer race member 12.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that this inventionparticularly relates to the combined retaining and mounting member 13which is inexpensively constructed, readily securable in positionrelative to the outer race member and which readily facilitates themounting of the bearing assembly within a housing. It will be readilyapparent that the combined retaining and mounting member 13 may bereadily cut from tubing and after the formation of the flange 27thereon, it is ready to be assembled with the inner race member 11 andthe outer race member 12. The outer race member 12 is readily pressedinto the cylinder 26 of the combined retaining and mounting member 13and the spinning of the annular rib 27 is readily and automaticallyperformed. It will be further apparent that the flange 32 may be readilyformed after the bearing assembly 10 has been mounted in place within ahousing, such as the housing 30.

Referring now to FIG. 6 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated a slightly modified fonn of self-aligning bearing assembly,which bearing assembly is identified by the numeral 40. The bearingassembly may be of an identical construction with the bearing assembly10 except that it will not be provided with the preformed flange 27 onthe cylinder thereof.

Basically, the self-aligning bearing 40 includes an inner race member41, an outer race member 42, and a combined retaining and mountingmember 43. The inner race member 41 is in the form of a sphericalbushing which is seated within the outer race member 42, the outer racemember 42 having an inner surface configurated to confonn to the outersurface of the inner race member 41. In order that the inner race member41 may be assembled within the outer race member 42, the outer racemember is of a split construction. The outer race member 42 is snuglyreceived in the combined retaining and mounting member 43 so as toprevent separation thereof during usage.

The combined retaining and mounting member 43 is snugly received withina bore 44 of a housing member 45. It is to be noted that the housingmember 44 is of a dimension axially of the bearing assembly 40 less thanthe combined retaining and mounting member 43, this providing at theends of the member 43 lips 46 which may be readily out-tumed to defineflanges opposing the opposite faces of the housing member and thusaxially position the self-aligning bearing assembly 40 within thehousing member 45.

Referring now to FIG. 7 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated still another form of self-aligning bearing assembly formedin accordance with this invention, the bearing assembly being generallyidentified by the numeral 50. The bearing assembly 50 is of aconstruction very similar to the bearing assembly 40 and includes aninner race member 51,

I an outer race member 52, and a combined retaining and mounting member53. It will be noted that the self-aligning bearing assembly 50 differsfrom the self-aligning bearing assembly 40 only in the axial length ofthe combined retaining and mounting member 53 and the details of ahousing member 54 in which the bearing assembly 50 is mounted. Thecombined retaining and mounting member 53 is of substantially the sameaxial extent as the outer race member 52, as is the housing member 54.

The housing member 54 is provided with a bore 55 in which the combinedretaining and mounting member 53 is snugly received. The opposite endsof the bore 55 are chamfered as at 56. It will thus be readily apparentthat once the bearing assembly 50 has been centered within the housingmember 54, the remote ends of the combined retaining and mounting member53 may be out-tumed into tight engagement with the chamfers in the formof flanges which axially position the bearing assembly 51 within thehousing member 54.

It is to be understood that in addition to the bearing as sembly beingformed with or without such optional features as extensions or flanges,aligned bores, etc., other minor variations may be made in the bearingassembly without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A self-aligning bearing assembly comprising an inner race memberhaving a part spherical outer surface, an outer race member having apart spherical inner surface cooperable with said inner race membersurface and a cylindrical outer surface with a circumferential groove,and a combined retaining and mounting member, said outer race memberbeing of axially split construction to facilitate the assembly of saidinner race member and said outer race member, said combined retainingand mounting member extending circumferentially around said outer racemember thereby retaining said outer race member against separation, andfurther having an annular rib matingly engaging the circumferentialgroove in the outer race thereby restraining axial displacement of theouter race, and defining a peripheral lubricant passage in the exteriorof said combined retaining and mounting member, and having means thereonfacilitating the mounting of said bearing assembly as a unit, said meansincluding a first projecting lip on said combined retaining and mountingmember at one end thereof formable into a flange for out-tumedengagement with one side of a housing, and a second projecting lip atthe other end thereof for the formation of a second out-turned mountingflange operable to cooperate with said first out-turned mounting flangeto clamp a housing therebetween.

2. The self-aligning bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein said combinedretaining and mounting member is in the form of a cylinder having anout-tumed mounting flange at one end thereof.

3. The self-aligning bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein said ribdefines a peripheral lubricant passage in the exterior of said combinedretaining and mounting member, and aligned radial lubricant passages insaid outer race member and said combined retaining and mounting memberextending at least from said peripheral lubricant passage into andbetween said outer race member and said inner race member.

6. The self-aligning bearing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said flangemeans are flanges engaging remote faces of said housing member.

7. The self-aligning bearing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housingmember has a bore snugly receiving said combined retaining and mountingmember, said bore being chamfered at the opposite ends thereof, and saidflange means being in the form of out-turned flanges seated in saidchamfers.

# i i t I!

1. A self-aligning bearing assembly comprising an inner race memberhaving a part spherical outer surface, an outer race member having apart spherical inner surface cooperable with said inner race membersurface and a cylindrical outer surface with a circumferential groove,and a combined retaining and mounting member, said outer race memberbeing of axially split construction to facilitate the assembly of saidinner race member and said outer race member, said combined retainingand mounting member extending circumferentially around said outer racemember thereby retaining said outer race member against separation, andfurther having an annular rib matingly engaging the circumferentialgroove in the outer race thereby restraining axial displacement of theouter race, and defining a peripheral lubricant passage in the exteriorof said combined retaining and mounting member, and having means thereonfacilitating the mounting of said bearing assembly as a unit, said meansincluding a first projecting lip on said combined retaining and mountingmember at one end thereof formable into a flange for out-turnedengagement with one side of a housing, and a second projecting lip atthe other end thereof for the formation of a second outturned mountingflange operable to cooperate with said first outturned mounting flangeto clamp a housing therebetween.
 2. The self-aligning bearing assemblyof claim 1 wherein said combined retaining and mounting member is in theform of a cylinder having an out-turned mounting flange at one endthereof.
 3. The self-aligning bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein saidrib defines a peripheral lubricant passage in the exterior of saidcombined retaining and mounting member, and aligned radial lubricantpassages in said outer race member and said combined retaining andmounting member extending at least from said peripheral lubricantpassage into and between said outer race member and said inner racemember.
 4. The self-aligning bearing of claim 1 together with sealscarried by said outer race member at the opposite ends thereof and insealed engagement with said inner race member.
 5. The self-aligningbearing assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for facilitating themounting of said bearing assembly are in the form of end portions ofsaid combined retaining and mounting member, said combined retaining andmounting member being generally of the same axial extent as said outerrace member, and said end portions overlapping said outer race member.6. The self-aligning bearing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said flangemeans are flanges engaging remote faces of said housing member.
 7. Theself-aligning bearing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing memberhas a bore snugly receiving said combined retaining and mounting member,said bore being chamfered at the opposite ends thereof, and said flangemeans being in the form of out-turned flanges seated in said chamfers.